Windows Mobile
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Windows Mobile is a compact operating system for mobile devices based on the Microsoft Win32 API. Devices which run Windows Mobile include Pocket PCs, Smartphones, and Portable Media Centers. It is designed to be similar to desktop versions of Windows.
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Common Windows Mobile Features
Windows Mobile for Pocket PC carries these standard features in most of its versions:
- Today Screen shows the current date, owner information, upcoming appointments, e-mail messages, and tasks. It also includes the notification bar which includes icons to notify the status of Bluetooth and also includes the New button. Programs can be installed which adds extra items to the Today screen. One of these is Microsoft Money for Pocket PC. The background image can be customised directly through the Pocket PC, or themes can be created and syncronised onto the Pocket PC.
- The taskbar shows the current time, the volume, and the connectivity status. When a program or message box is open the blank space after the clock is filled with an OK or close icon. The main feature of the taskbar is the Start Button, which is designed similarly to the Start Button which features on desktop versions of Windows. The Start Menu features recently opened programs at the top, nine customisable menu entries, and links to the program, settings, find (search), and help.
- Pocket PC versions of Microsoft Office applications are included in Windows Mobile. These include Pocket Word and Pocket Excel. In Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PowerPoint has been included. These versions include many of the features which are used in desktop versions, but some other features like inserting tables and images have not been included in post 5.0 versions. ActiveSync has capablilites which convert desktop versions of files to Pocket PC compatible versions.
- Outlook is also an included program which comes with Windows Mobile. This includes tasks, calendar, contacts, and inbox. Microsoft Outlook for desktop versions are sometimes included in value-added CD-Roms which are included with the Pocket PC hardware manufacturer.
- Windows Media Player for Windows Mobile is bundled with the Windows Mobile software. Currently, all Pocket PCs include Version 9 of the player, but Version 10 has been included with newer hardware and newer versions of Windows Mobile. For exisiting devices, Version 10 is available for download for only specified devices — these include devices from the Dell Axim range. The player supports .WMA, .WMV, .MP3, and .AVI files. Currently MPEG files are not supported file types, and a third-party program must be downloaded to play these, and WAV files are played in a separate player.
Windows Mobile 2003
The first version, Windows Mobile 2003, was released in 2003. It came in three versions. Two of these editions are similar, Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC and Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC Phone Edition, which is designed especially for Pocket PCs which include phone functionalities (as HTC, distributed in many countries as Qtek or O2)).
The third version is named Windows Mobile 2003 for Smartphone, which — despite several similarities with Pocket PC — is a substantially different platform that also requires software applications to be specifically targeting this device type. To name a few specifics, Windows Mobile powered Smartphone devices do not have touchscreens, have lower display resolution, have a regular phone keypad, and are specially designed for single-handed use.
Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition
Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition, also known as Windows Mobile 2003SE, was first offered on the Dell Axim x30, and it includes a number of improvements over its predecessor, among which:
- The option to switch from landscape to portrait screen layout. This is not available in the Smartphone version.
- Pocket Internet Explorer (otherwise known as PIE) includes the option to force a page into a single-column layout, making reading easier since one now only has to scroll vertically.
- VGA (640×480) and QVGA screen resolutions are now supported, as opposed to the previous 320×240. Also supported is a new square form factor (240×240 and 480×480 for VGA screens), which is ideally suited for manufacturers wishing to include a hardware keyboard. Although it wasn't originally slated to contain this feature, Microsoft decided to add it due to pressure from Pocket PC manufacturers.
- Support for Wi-Fi Protected Access.
Windows Mobile 5.0
Windows Mobile 5.0 is the next generation version of Microsoft's Windows Mobile operating system, code-named Magneto. It is powered by Windows CE 5.x and uses the .NET Compact Framework 2.0 — an environment for programs based on .NET to be used.
Features include:
- A new version of Office called 'Office Mobile'
- PowerPoint mobile has finally been added
- Excel Mobile adds graphing capability
- Word Mobile adds tables and graphics insertion
- Windows Media Player 10 Mobile
- Photo caller ID
- Picture and Video package, which converges the management of videos and pictures
- Enhanced Bluetooth support, including a Global Positioning System (GPS) management interface
- Microsoft Exchange Server "push" functionality improvements
- QWERTY keyboard-support is included by default
- Error reporting facility similar to that present in desktop and server Windows systems
- ActiveSync 4.0, promising 10–15% increased speed on syncronization
Initial reports suggest that Windows Mobile 5.0 will not come in separate Smartphone or Pocket PC editions. Rather just one central version will exist that is capable of using the resources of the device it is installed on. A logical assumption would be the ability of OEMs to configure the OS to their device requirements and design. Pre-release builds of the software have been shown to run Smartphone applications on a Pocket PC.
Windows Mobile 5.0 was released at Microsoft's Mobile and Embedded Developers Conference 2005 in Las Vegas, May 9–May 12, 2005.
Photon
This is the OS to follow Windows Mobile 5.0. Nothing much is known about this OS apart from special design improvements and greatly improved battery life. Expected release is 2006.
See also
External links
- Official site of Windows Mobile
- www.pdahotspots.com PDA Hotspots — List of websites that adjust to the small PDA screen
- Windows Mobile C# software Applications developer
| History of Microsoft Windows |
| Windows: 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.x | NT | 95 | 98 | Me | 2000 | XP | Server 2003 | Server 2003 R2 | CE | Mobile | Longhorn | Blackcomb |